Cuttlefish Tip Jar

EVENTS

Thousands protest Teacher’s 15-day sentence

The continuing saga of Gillian Gibbons(I predict, in a day, they’ll have magnetic ribbonsTo “show your support for the naming of bears”)Has reached a new peak—don’t be caught unawares.When the teacher was sentenced to prison this weekSome protesters gathered in Khartoum to speak;Thought I, “they must see that this sentence is wrong,And they’re all coming out, in a mass, thousands strong,To rail at an outcome they see as too strict,And move that the Judge, right away, interdict!But no. I was wrong. All the protesting massesHad gathered together to prove themselves asses;A fifteen day sentence? Why, that isn’t squat—These protesters demand that Ms. Gibbons be shot!They demand execution by firing squad;It’s the right thing to do, and the True Will Of God.

sigh

Islam is, they say, a religion of peace;Our attacks on their honor are wrong, and should cease.To probe this mob’s sanity surely is slander,We all must admit, if we’re speaking with candor.To call them extremists, or radical nuts,Is simply insulting—no ifs, ands, or buts.It seems when these rioters look in the mirrorThey only see goodness—it couldn’t be clearer.To call for the death of this teacher is brave;It’s the way that the Prophet, himself, would behave.So you see, this is peaceful, they calmly explain.And it makes perfect sense.*

Well, let’s try a thought experiment. Suppose I named some of my daughter’s dolls Mohammed, Jesus, Moses, Gotama and Krishna. I think you’d agree that seems a bit much somehow. Overfamiliar and saccarine; though funny in a twee way. A botched compliment; what I call a “dog kiss”. People who have faith in themselves can shrug off dog kisses. Others might not.People who are insulted by a teddy bear’s name reveal their insecurity and lack of faith.